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Posted on the Jumping For Fun forum yesterday was the announcement of the passing of Family Business, just a few days shy of his 14th birthday. He was, by all accounts, the first horse to trade at 999/1 on Betfair and win, in this memorable Southwell contest of 2002;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnE-q5rOEKQ
“We lost dear old Family Business just before Christmas – we had retired him from racing but he was due to move to Ireland with us and i had hoped to hunt him but sadly he had a heart attack while i was with him in his stable at Hazel Court – it was as quick – and as shocking as that – but at least we were with him and knew that it was quick.
He was an absolutely wonderful horse to us – his original owner sent him to us after a series of falls, and finally a fractured pelvis – whilst with Pipes – and once we got him back in one piece and restored his confidence you couldnt have wished for a more genuine horse or better jumper.
He is remembered by many for his infamous win at southwell with Tony McCoy when every horse, including him, fell but he was remounted to win. We would hope he might also be remembered for his front running exhibition round of jumping which won him the 3m5f hunterchase at Chepstow – which was also a last Hunter chase for his great mate and jockey Julian Pritchard.
He was an unlucky horse in many of his races – always fragile from his previous ailments but several times injured by other horses in races – but he never lost his enthusiasm for racing and for life in general – and we miss him greatly. We have his younger half brother who has been told he has big shoes to fill – and hopefully he will!
Thank you to everyone who supported and enjoyed ‘Ferbies’ career.
Martin and Debby Ewing”
RIP old boy – a pleasure to have seen you in action.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
What wonderful people and how lucky his half brother is to be spending his life with them. I never understood Jenny Pitman being so stoic when Willsford died on track with a heart attack, but over the years I’ve come to understand that if you follow racing or own horses you always want their end to be as quick and distress free as possible.It doesn’t take away the pain of their loss, but it does reduce it slightly.I hope they all have a great life in Ireland. R.I.P.
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